Editorial Reviews Music Review:
Music Review
Gods and Monsters [Limited Edition] [Import]
Musique française: Alkan, Hahn, d'Indy, Jadin, Saint-Saëns (Box Set) [Box set]
Music: Sessions V.13: Kings of Tomorrow Sessions [Import]
Live in Concert [Live] [Import]
Off Centre: A Riot on Old Street
Mystery of the East: Music from Russian Churches and Monastaries
Amazon.com
A sweet, catchy gem of an album, Closer corrals Better Than Ezra's multitude of influences and styles into a memorable whole. While the title track sounds as if it might be an outtake from Live (not a bad thing!), the lush tune, with string arrangements by David Campbell, showcases singer-guitarist Kevin Griffin's bittersweet vocals, making for a standout in an album full of strong songs. Personal, poignant lyrics are paired with spare, lovely musicality on "A Lifetime," while the funky "Recognize," with slide guitar and guest DJ Swamp, is a departure, but it works, as does the hip-pop, almost-novelty "Extra Ordinary." With Closer, BTE come across as a more sophisticated, adult contemporary version of Sugar Ray (the New Orleans-bred trio), moving seamlessly among light modern rock-pop styles, deftly capturing and illuminating emotions in an earnest, but never cloying, manner. --Katherine Turman